British Open

[Van_Slyke_CF]

I think for Greg Norman to finish third in the British Open at age 53 is a tremendous individual accomplishment in sports, especially when you take into account the fact that he`d hardly played any competitive golf in recent years.

He had his failures 10-20 years ago. Some of them were of his own doing, while others resulted from fluke shots of his opponents and other things that were beyond his control.

All in all, though, I always enjoyed watching him and was happy to see him play for one more major title. (He has qualified for next year`s Masters by virtue of his 3rd place finish, but will he even want to play?)

I call any major that is missing Tiger and has some great play from Norman, and the champion, Padraig Harrington, a major success.

 

[Poacher]

Bump...'09 Open here.

 

[Don Wassall]

How about 59-year-old Tom Watson firing a 65 to lead after the first round!

The Open this year is at Turnberry, where Watson won in 1977 in a great duel over Jack Nicklaus. If you ever get a chance to see a one-hour highlight show of that tournament on the Golf Channel or ESPN, it's highly recommended.

Somehow I just don't foresee Tiger Woods leading majors after one round 30 years from now. I tuned in TNT's coverage briefly just now, long enough to hear Ernie Johnson

ask Ian Baker-Finch, "What was more surprising today -- Tiger Woods shooting 71 or Tom Watson's 65?"

 

[Jack Lambert]

Yeah, those caste clowns make me sick. The media girls like those two should know that Tiger will never, ever be leading after the first round of a major, maybe not after the 2nd round either. Hopefully, Tiger stays far away from the leaderboard. Tiger always seems to come back though, almost like it is rigged that he makes puts and comes back, and all the white golfers in front of him start shooting horrible shots, giving Woods a chance to win.

Anyway, good luck to Watson for the rest of the tournement. Wouldn't it be something if Watson pulls through and wins the Open?

 

[Poacher]

Watson is truly amazing. What longevity...something our folk seem to enjoy in many sports.

His highness has dug himself a monster hole, tied for 68th.

 

[Jack Lambert]

Watson is still tied for 1st after the 2nd round today, shooting a 70 to remain at 5 under.

I'm pulling for Watson to pull it out.


Meanwhile, the messiah is tied for 106th at +7.

 

[Don Wassall]

Meanwhile, the messiah is tied for 106th at +7.

Was watching Sports Center yesterday and one of the actor/clowns hosting it said after showing highlights of the first round (focusing mainly on Woods of course), "And after the round, He spoke."

The reverence and inflection in his voice translated to "He" rather than "he." If you heard it you would know what I mean.

 

[Solomon Kane]

Amazing, woodsout after two rounds, and watson is in the hunt! Let's all pray for a repeat of watson's earlier turnberry victory. It would begreat if he won...and would shift the golf story away from woods. and it would mean watson would take his place next to Jack as one of golf's greatest. Does anyone remember how old jack was when he won his last major?

 

[Solomon Kane]

I agree with what has been said about the TV caste clowns--what's with the reverence?And what willthese guys do for the next two days, now that "He" is gone?

 

[Solomon Kane]

let me correct my first post--certainly watson is already among the top ten greatest golfers--but a victory here would bring him closer to Jack, who stands out as the best.

 

[Jack Lambert]

Messiah Woods couldn't muster up enough "magic", and was cut from the Open today. There is another major Tiger won't win.

Yeah Don, the jock-sniffers on Sportscenter always use hushed, almost worshipful tones everytime they listen to their messiah, Tiger speak.

Anyway, the media is gathering together for their all-night crying session and worship session of Tiger Woods tonight.

 

[Colonel_Reb]

Amazing, woodsout after two rounds, and watson is in the hunt! Let's all pray for a repeat of watson's earlier turnberry victory. It would begreat if he won...and would shift the golf story away from woods. and it would mean watson would take his place next to Jack as one of golf's greatest. Does anyone remember how old jack was when he won his last major?

I'm thrilled that Woods is out of the spotlight for this weekend. Jack Nicklaus won his last major (the 1986 Masters) at age 46. Tom Watson is 59.

 

[Don Wassall]

Greg Norman led the Open after three rounds at age 53 just last year. And he had hardly played golf in the year leading up to the Open due to injury, his marriage to Chris Evert, and tending to his global business empire.

 

[Poacher]

Watson is the leader after three rounds. Amazing stuff.

 

[Colonel_Reb]

Just in case you were wondering, the oldest man to win a major was American Julius Boros, who won the 1968 PGA Championship at 48.

 

[Don Wassall]

Even the Tiger-worshipping caste hounds at ABC/ESPN are saying it may be the greatest accomplishment in sports history if Watson wins tomorrow.

Whether he wins or not, this will give Watson more of the recognition he deserves. He had asignificant dominating stretch after Nicklaus's peak and well before Woods came along, but the media generally pretends that the line of succession went from Nicklaus straight to Woods.Watson is sixth all time in majors won and a win tomorrow would tie him for fifth with nine.

 

[Thrashen]

It seemed like ESPN was a little embarressed of their messiah after he was cut. They didnt even bother using the standard excuses (namely, the knee).

I mean, not even the masters-of-deception could skew the truth enough to overlook the fact that Tiger (the worlds #1 ranked golfer, and world highest paid athlete) was cut from a major championship event in which a 60 year old white man was leading.

I also saw something quite rare....ESPN was showing short clips of Tiger after poor shots. You know, throwing down his clubs, beating his clubs off the ground, and pouting while walking the fairway.

All of these childish antics are quite common for Tiger....but the news-media only ever shows him smiling and laughing after highlight-reel shots. At least they didnt show clips of him swearing and cursing loudly while young children (and their DWF mothers and fathers) in the gallery fawn over his every brilliant move.

The "Tiger is Back" high was certainly short-lived....the sports media must be buring in their own living hell.Edited by: Thrashen

 

[Bart]

Even when Woods is not playing it's all about him. I read this quote by Watson in ESPN's coverage and thought it was interesting.

(snip)

Watson was asked if it helped not having Woods in his rearview mirror heading to Sunday.

"I don't ever get to play Tiger," Watson, who usually plays on the Champions Tour, said with a grin. "So I don't give a damn about Tiger."

(snip)

 

[Colonel_Reb]

Awesome quote there Bart!

 

[SeaJim]

"I don't ever get to play Tiger," Watson, who usually plays on the Champions Tour, said with a grin. "So I don't give a damn about Tiger."

Love it!!

 

[Poacher]

Would've been incredible to have seen Watson win it but he couldn't hold on. To have a ten-footer to win it all at age 59 is impressive in its own right.

Congrats to Cink.

 

[Don Wassall]

I'm just glad I'm a golf fan. Stewart Cink is a deserving winner, a very classy guy (who isn't on the PGA Tour, other than a certain sullen individual who continually smashes clubs into the ground after poor shots and won't interact with the fans). Thanks for the memories, Tom Watson!

 

[Jack Lambert]

I was pulling for Watson, but I agree,Cink is another guy who I liked to see win the Open. As Don said, he is a classy guy. Also, I'm glad he got that first major won. Thank you, Tom Watson.

Also, another major his royal highness didn't win!

 

[GWTJ]

Golf seemed to do just fine this weekend without the chosen one. In fact, it was better. I hope the tv ratings are huge as well.

Congrats to Tom Watson for showing that he still has that fire in his belly. One of the toughest things competitors have to deal with is the slow waning of competitiveness with age. But Watson still plays a full schedule on the Seniors tour and still comes to the British Open to win. Just awesome!

 

[Don Wassall]

Rick Reilly is a reliable caste clown, but he did add anice digat Woods in his tribute to Watson after the tournament. After saying that it was good to have a respite from the Tiger era -- though instantly adding a disclaimer of "not that the Tiger era isn't wonderful" -- and in between various shots of Tom, when Reilly noted what a gentleman Watson is and how he respects the game, there was a quick shot of the self-absorbed Woods angrily slamming his club into the ground at the hallowed course.